Manchester City will host Newcastle United in the crucial second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

In the first leg, Manchester City held a 2-0 lead, just one step away from Wembley Stadium. Manager Pep Guardiola delivered mixed news about the squad at the pre-match press conference: defensive linchpin Ruben Dias had finally returned to training, but the team's injury list remained lengthy.

Guardiola confirmed that Ruben Dias, who had been sidelined for a month, returned to training on Monday, a significant boost for Manchester City's recently strained defense. However, the team's injury crisis is not entirely over.

French midfielder Lajan Cherki was forced off injured in Sunday's match against Tottenham, and his availability will be assessed in the final training session. In addition, several key players including Doku, Gevadiol, Stones, Savinho, and Kovacic remain sidelined with injuries, while Marc Guieis is ineligible to play due to regulations.

Despite holding a two-goal lead, Guardiola remained highly vigilant. He praised Newcastle United's manager, Eddie Howe, and the team as a Champions League caliber, emphasizing the need to respect their pride and ability to fight back.

For Manchester City, the League Cup holds special significance. If they advance to the final, it will be Guardiola's fifth time leading Manchester City to the Carabao Cup final in his ten years in charge. Previously, he led the team to a four-peat between 2018 and 2021.

“This is a fantastic opportunity,” Guardiola said. “We need to see how well the players have recovered from their tough time at Tottenham, play the football that belongs to Manchester City for our fans, and strive to return to Wembley in March.”

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